One of the summer’s less pleasurable activities for homeowners is the endless lawn mowing. It only takes a rain shower and a few days of sunshine for the grass to look unkempt again. A popular strategy to avoid mowing is to make one of your children do it. But is that a great idea? How…
Read more
America is suffering from a lack of properties for sale. Current housing stock on the market currently stands at 1.4 million properties, and it hasn’t been this low since 2012. The number of homes for sale is 7.1% less than compared with May last year, according to the real estate brokerage Redfin. New listings are…
Read more
Current property market conditions may give homeowners a rare opportunity to upgrade profitably, judging by the latest data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Figures show the nation has insufficient properties on the market to meet buyer demand; and that’s awesome news if you’re considering selling. The NAR says that sales of pre-owned homes…
Read more
The selection of a countertop is one of the hardest decisions when remodeling a kitchen. You’re confronted with such a variety of surfaces and colors it can make your head spin. The style of kitchen cabinetry will be an influencing factor, but you’ll still be left with a tough choice about the countertop you want…
Read more
Many owners will spend thousands of dollars preparing their homes for sale, but they need to remember to consider what buyers desire. Before you put your home on the market, it’s a smart play to talk to some real estate agents about the features that would attract buyers before committing to an upgrade. The fundamentals…
Read more
Our long summer evenings are a wonderful time to be outdoors; so long as you’re not driven back inside by the pesky, biting insects that descend on us the moment the sun goes down. Being able to ward off insects is essential for an enjoyable evening on the patio. No one likes beating a retreat…
Read more
Popular regions around New Zealand are starting to experience a shortage of properties for sale; and that may be a positive sign for owners debating whether they should sell in the current market. Dramatic shortages are being reported in Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay, where the number of homes for sale is down 62% for houses…
Read more
Upgrading your property, or plunging into the market for the first time, requires some strategic thinking at the moment. Shelving your property ambitions right now, and putting them to the back of your mind, will not help you capitalise on the current opportunities. While New Zealand is technically in a recession (we’ve had consecutive quarters…
Read more
A deluxe kitchen is a dream for many homeowners who love their food and the idea of entertaining. What is a reasonable sum of money to invest in a kitchen? It depends on your property’s value and the likely demographic of your target buyers. It’s easy to spend more than $100,000 on a state-of-the-art kitchen,…
Read more
A picture tells a thousand words – and that well-known phrase neatly captures the need for every owner to invest in quality photography when the time comes to sell their home. If you’re thinking of selling your home, never underestimate the power of photography. When folks are scrolling through real estate portals, only the best…
Read more
